CITIZEN KANE1941
Citizen Kane
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Movie Rating
MOVIE RATING
Source of Film
SOURCE OF FILM
- Citizen Kane
- by Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles
Orson Welles was the mercurial boy-wonder who's radio plays, The War of the Worlds (1938) in particular, had some people fleeing their homes. Herman J. Mankiewicz was a brilliant and bitter alcoholic who occasionaly exhibited flashes of great insight in his writing. He had met the powerful publisher William Randolph Hearst and wanted to take him down a notch.
Mankiewicz shared their screenplay with friend and fellow screenwriter Charles Lederer, a close relative of Hearst's long-time paramour, the actress Marion Davies. When Hearst found out about the unflattering nature of the story, he used all his signifcant influence to scuttle the project and very nearly did.
Producer Detail
PRODUCER/DIRECTOR DETAIL
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- Orson Welles
- Mercury Productions
- (1937-1955)